Classic Beef Bolognese
A rich, deeply savory slow-simmered meat sauce that clings perfectly to your favorite pasta.
Ingredients
- •1 tablespoon olive oil
- •1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- •1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
- •1 medium carrot, finely diced
- •1 stalk celery, finely diced
- •2 cloves garlic, minced
- •1 pound ground beef (85/15 lean)
- •1/2 cup dry white wine
- •1 can crushed tomatoes (28 ounces)
- •1/2 cup whole milk
- •1 teaspoon kosher salt
- •1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- •1 pound spaghetti or tagliatelle, for serving
- •Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving
Instructions
- 1
Heat the olive oil and butter in a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat.
- 2
Add the diced onion, carrot, and celery, and sauté for about 8 minutes until softened and translucent.
- 3
Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- 4
Add the ground beef, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon, and cook until browned all over.
- 5
Pour in the white wine and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot, letting it simmer until the wine has mostly evaporated.
- 6
Stir in the crushed tomatoes, whole milk, kosher salt, and black pepper, reducing the heat to low.
- 7
Simmer the sauce partially covered for at least 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thick and rich.
- 8
Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water according to package directions until al dente.
- 9
Toss the drained pasta directly into the sauce, mixing well to coat, and serve hot with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
💡 Chef tips
- Adding milk is a traditional Italian technique that tenderizes the meat and cuts the acidity of the tomatoes.
- This sauce tastes even better the next day, making it a fantastic make-ahead meal that can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- You can freeze the cooked Bolognese sauce in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
✅ How it should turn out
The finished dish features a thick, glossy, tomato-and-meat sauce coating every strand of pasta, offering a deeply savory aroma and a rich, melt-in-your-mouth flavor.